Paramedics and ambulance personnel across Ireland have begun a nationwide 24-hour strike, prompting warnings from the HSE about delays to ambulance response times for non-emergency cases.
The industrial action, which started at 8am on Tuesday and continues until 8am on Wednesday, involves National Ambulance Service staff including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, advanced paramedics, specialist paramedics and supervisors.
The dispute centres on claims by Unite and SIPTU that the HSE has failed to implement recommendations from the 2020 Roles and Responsibilities Review. Union representatives argue that ambulance workers have taken on greater clinical duties, qualifications and operational responsibilities over recent years without receiving corresponding pay increases or recognition.
They also say a recommended 5% pay rise under the Benchmarking II process remains outstanding.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said ambulance staff had been “left with no option” but to strike in pursuit of fair pay and recognition for the increasingly complex work they perform on the frontline.
Union officials said contingency measures have been agreed with the HSE to ensure emergency and life-threatening cases continue to receive priority treatment during the stoppage.
Unite regional officer Eoin Drummey said workers would rather be “saving lives than standing on picket lines”, but insisted staff felt compelled to act after years of frustration over unresolved issues.
The HSE has advised the public that ambulance response times for non-life-threatening incidents are likely to be significantly affected during the strike period and encouraged people to consider alternative healthcare services where appropriate.
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